PERSONAL EMERGENCY TRANSMITTER AND SYSTEM FOR APPLICATION OF SUCH A TRANSMITTER

Abstract: Personal emergency transmitter, comprising: a) an electronic transmitter circuit for transmitting a coded message, b) a battery for powering the electronic transmitter circuit, c) a humidity detector, connected to an activating input of the transmitter circuit, d) a watertight housing in which at least the components mentioned under a) and b) are installed, e) an antenna connnected to the transmitter circuit, f) means, attached to the housing, and enabling the user to carry the transmitter. The transmitter comprises furthermore a position detector with which a predetermined position or attitude of the transmitter, corresponding during the operation with a lying position of the user, can be detected, which detector is connected to the activating input of the transmitter circuit.

Description: Personal emergency transmitter and system for application of such a trans¬ mitter. The invention relates to a personal emergency transmitter, comprising: a) an electronic transmitter circuit for transmitting a coded message, b) a battery for powering the electronic transmitter circuit, c) a humidity detector, connected to an activating input of the transmit¬ ter circuit, d) a watertight housing in which at least the components mentioned under a) and b) are installed, e) an antenna connected to the transmitter circuit, f) means, attached to the housing, and enabling the user to carry the transmitter. Such a transmitter is for instance known from the US patent US 5,025,247. The housing in which the actual transmitter circuit and the bat¬ tery are installed and in or on to which furthermore the humidity detector is positioned, is carried by the user through a string around the neck or attached to a band around the arm. If for one reason or another the user falls into water, the humidity detector reacts to said fact and supplies a signal to the transmitter circuit which in response thereto starts trans¬ mitting a coded message. This coded message is received by a receiver, positioned within the transmitting range, and results in the activation of an alarm signal. If such a transmitter is applied in a system which may comprise a number of transmitters each able to transmit a signal which can be received by said receiver, than each transmitter has its own code such that in the receiver, after detection of the received signal, the code can be used as identification of the transmitter, which had transmitted the message. This known transmitter comprises furthermore a push button by means of which the transmitter can be activated manually, for instance in case the user feels unwell, feels threatened or has other reasons to transmit an emergency signal. An object of the invention is now to embody a transmitter of the above described type such that not only automatically an emergency signal will be transmitted in case the user falls into water, but furthermore automati¬ cally an emergency signal will be transmitted in case the user assumes a lying position, which could happen in case the user stumbles and falls, faints, is attacked, etc. In agreement with said object the invention now provides a transmitter of the above described type, characterized in that the transmitter com- prises furthermore a position detector with which a predetermined position of the transmitter, corresponding during operation with a lying position of the user, can be detected, which detector is connected to the activating input of the transmitter circuit. The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the attached drawings. Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a transmitter according to the invention. Figure 2 illustrates a further developed embodiment of a transmitter according to the invention. Figure 3 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the housing of a transmitter according to the invention. Figure 4 illustrates an amended transmitter circuit for application in the transmitters illustrated in figure 1 or 2. Figure 5 illustrates a system in which the transmitter according to the invention can be applied. The transmitter according to figure 1 comprises the actual transmitter circuit 12, which is powered from a battery 14. The activating input 12a of the transmitter circuit 12 is connected to a humidity detector 16 and to a position or attitude detector 18. At the output side the transmitter cir- cuit 12 is connected to a suitable antenna 20. The transmitter circuit 12, the battery 14 and the position detector 18 are installed within a watertight housing which in figure 1 is schemati¬ cally indicated by the dotted line 22. The humidity detector 16 is mounted in or on the housing such that the humidity sensitive elements of said detector can perform their function in a correct manner. Also the antenna 20 is in a favourable manner mounted in or on the housing 22. The position detector 18 is of a type which delivers an output signal in case the detector is in a predetermined attitude or position. This detector 18 is mounted in the housing 22 such, that during normal oper- ation, whereby the user takes an upright standing or walking position, no signal is delivered. However, as soon as the user for one reason or an other assumes a lying position, the detector 18 will deliver a signal to the activating input 12a and will therewith activate the transmitter cir¬ cuit 12. If for one reason or an other the user falls into water than the humidity sensor 16 will react thereon and will deliver a signal to the activating input 12a of the transmitter 12 which in response thereto starts transmitting a signal. As such position or attitude detectors and humidity detectors are con¬ sidered to be known to the expert in this field so that a further detailed description thereof is considered superfluous. Preferable the transmitter circuit 12 is of a type with which a coded output signal can be transmitted. Therewith it is possible to distinguish between a number of transmitters within a system comprising one single receiver or a restricted number of receivers. By providing each transmitter with its own identifiable code, it is possible to determine, after recep¬ tion of a signal in the receiver and after detection of the code, which transmitter had transmitted the signal. Figure 2 illustrates a further developed transmitter according to the invention. Also this embodiment comprises again the transmitter 12, the battery 14, the humidity detector 16, the position detector 18, the antenna 20 and the watertight housing 22. Furthermore this transmitter comprises a delay circuit 24 inserted in the signal path between the position detector 18 respectively the humidity detector 16 and the activating input 12a of the transmitter circuit 12. Between the output of the delay circuit 24 and the activating input 12a of the transmitter circuit 12 furthermore a switch 26 is inserted which can be operated by the user through an externally accessible operating element 28. The switch 26 is normally closed, the position which is in figure 2 indicated by a dotted line. If a signal is generated by the humidity detector 16 or by the position detector 18 than this signal will be delayed in the delay circuit 24 over a predetermined period, for instance a period of 5-10 seconds, and will appear thereafter at the output of the delay circuit 24 to activate the transmitter 12 through the closed switch 26. The delay period enables the user to prevent activation of the transmitter circuit 12 in case according to the user no signal should be delivered although he assumes a lie down position, by operating through the activa¬ tion element 28 the switch 26. As soon as the switch 26 is opened the transmitter circuit 12 can not be activated. In the transmitter illustrated in figure 2 preferably an acoustic gen- erator comprising an actual generator circuit 30 and an electro- acoustic transducer 32, embodied as a loudspeaker or an other type of transducer, is installed. The control input of the actual generator circuit 30 is con¬ nected to the position detector 18 and the power input of the generator 30 is through a switch 34 connected to the battery 14. The switch 34 is mech- anically coupled to the operating element 28. The switch 34 is normally closed so that the generator circuit 30 is powered. If the posture detector 18 (or the humidity detector 16) supplies a signal than this signal will activate the generator circuit 30 so that the transducer 32 will start transmitting an acoustic signal. Therewith the attention of the user is drawn to the fact that he is lying down. If according to the user the transmission of an emergency signal should be prevented, than he has the possibility to switch over not only the switch 26 but also the switch 34 by means of the operating element 28. The result thereof is that the transmit¬ ter circuit 12 will not be activated whereas furthermore the acoustic gen- erator circuit 30 will be switched off. Switching back the switches 26 and 34 may take place manually by the user 28 which for instance presses again onto the operating element 28. However, it is also possible to install a separate timing switch, for instance embodied as a counter or something similar, which after a prede- termined period operates the switches 26 and 34 and brings them again in the position which in figure 2 is illustrated by a dotted line. This timing unit is not illustrated in figure 2 but is considered as known to the expert in this field. Figure 3 illustrates schematically a perspective view on a transmitter according to the invention. The watertight housing 22 has in this embodi¬ ment an elongated rectangular shape with a front wall 42, a side wall 44 and a top wall 40. The other three walls are not visible in the figure. The top wall 40 comprises an eye 41 or something similar through which extends a closed flexible elongated element 46 in the form of a cord, a chain, a string or something similar. Preferably this elongated flexible element 46 comprises an electrically conducting wire or something similar functioning as an antenna and extending through the top wall 40 of the housing 22 into the inner space of the housing in which it is connected to the therein present transmitter circuit 12. The operating element 28 for operating the switches 26 and 34 (figure 2) is installed on the front wall of the housing 22. In a preferred embodiment the transmitter circuit 12 is embodied such that it comprises two separate activating inputs, an input 12a and an input 12b. In figure 4 such a transmitter circuit is separately illustrated sche- matically. The transmitter circuit 12 comprises internally circuits for transmitting a message with a first coding in case an activation signal is received through input 12a and for transmitting a second message with a different coding in case an activation signal is received through input 12b. Therewith the user has the possibility to operate a separate switch 36 through a separate operating element 38 and to transmit therewith a message to the receiver, which message after decoding in the receiver will not activate an alarm signal but will result into an other type of message which can be received and interpreted by the personnel operating the receiver. If this possibility is used than the second operating element is preferably embodied such that an unintentional operation thereof will be prevented. In figure 3 the activating element 38 is for that reason installed in a recess in the housing. Figure 5 illustrates a system in which a number of transmitters according to the invention are applied. At the left hand side of figure 5 two transmitters 50a, 50b according to the invention are illustrated very schematically. At the right hand side of figure 5 the receiver is shown comprising the actual receiver circuit 52 of which the input is connected to a receiving antenna 54 and which comprises two outputs, one coupled to an indicator 56 and the other coupled to an alarm circuit 58. If one of the transmitters 50a, 50b transmits an emergency signal, than this signal is received through the antenna 54 in the receiver 52 and is decoded therein. It appears from the received code that the signal was an emergency signal and in response thereto the receiver will activate the alarm circuit 58 so that an alarm will be given. Furthermore the code or a thereto correspon- ding transmitter number will be made visible on the indicator 56 so that the operating personnel knows which transmitter had transmitted the emerg¬ ency signal. In case one of the transmitters 50a, 50b transmits a message signal with another coding, than also this message will be received through the antenna 54 in the receiver 52. Because the signal was not an emergency signal the alarm circuit 58 will be kept inactive and only the indication panel 56 will be activated to indicate thereon that a different type of message is received from one of the transmitters.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Personal emergency transmitter, comprising: a) an electronic transmitter circuit for transmitting a coded message, b) a battery for powering the electronic transmitter circuit, c) a humidity detector, connected to an activating input of the transmit¬ ter circuit, d) a watertight housing in which at least the components mentioned under a) and b) are installed, e) an antenna connected to the transmitter circuit, f) means, attached to the housing, and enabling the user to carry the transmitter, characterized in that, the transmitter comprises furthermore a position detector with which a predetermined position or attitude of the transmitter, corresponding during the operation with a lying position of the user, can be detected, which detector is connected to the activating input of the transmitter circuit. 2. Transmitter according to claim 1, characterized in that between the position detector and the activating input of the transmitter a delay cir- cuit is inserted for delaying the signal of the position detector over a predetermined time period. 3. Transmitter according to claim 2, characterized in that the delay cir¬ cuit is of a type which provides after the delay period only a signal at its output in case the signal at its input has been present during a prede- termined period. 4. Transmitter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position detector is connected to the activating input of an acoustic generator, delivering an acoustic signal as soon as the user assumes a lying position. 5. Transmitter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the signal path between the position detector ' and the activating input of the transmitter a switch is inserted which can be opened by the user. 6. Transmitter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmitter comprises a second activating input connected to a switch, which can be operated by the user to supply a signal to said second activating input in response to which the transmitter circuit starts trans¬ mitting a message with a code, different from the code which is used in response to a signal on the first activating input. 7. Transmitter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing is embodied as an elongated housing, destined to be carried with the elongated sidewalls vertically. 8. Transmitter according to claim 7, characterized in that the means enabling the user to carry the transmitter are formed by a flexible elon- gated element such as a cord, string, chain or something similar, connected to one of the ends of the elongated housing. 9. Transmitter according to claim 8, characterized in that the antenna is combined with said flexible elongated element. 10. Transmitter according to claim 7, characterized in that the means enabling the user to carry the transmitter are formed by a clip or clamp, which is connected to the housing such, that after clamping the housing to a trouser-belt or to an other piece of clothing, the housing has the desired attitude or position. 11. System in which a number of transmitters of the type, described in one of the preceding claims, can be applied in combination with a receiver which after reception of a coded emergency signal activates an alarm cir¬ cuit, characterized in that the receiver is able to activate an indication panel after reception of a coded non-emergency message.

Inventors: TON FREDERIK, TON, FREDERIK
Applicants: HOLLAND SAFETY SYSTEMS, TON FREDERIK, TON, FREDERIK
Application year: 1994
Main classification: G08B21
IPC codes: G08B21